Dr. Doctoroff, tell us about your practice and how it differs from all others?
Established over ten years ago, Metropolitan Dermatology has grown to four office locations in Clark, Kearny, Staten Island, and Teanek. Our experienced staff provides world class treatment right in your neighborhood. Patients seeking the best care for the full spectrum of dermatologic services for adult and pediatric patients no longer need to trek into the city. In addition to general medical dermatology, Metropolitan Dermatology specializes in cosmetic dermatology and surgical dermatology.
Some of the cutting edge treatments available to our patients:
Photodynamic therapy – a combination of a topical medication and light exposure used to treat pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratoses) and reverse sun damage
Psoriasis and vitiligo treatments with Xtrac™ laser
Dermoscopy (epiluminescent microscopy) for skin cancer detection and pigmented lesions evaluation
Extended allergy patch testing for chemicals causing contact dermatitis
Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer
Cosmetic treatments including Voluma™, Juvederm™, Botox™, and Xeomin™
Customized skin care from Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute
Here at Metropolitan Dermatology our number one goal is patient satisfaction. Whether your needs include general dermatology, inpatient surgery or cosmetic procedures, you can be confident that you and your family will receive the best treatment options for all types of skin conditions. From your initial consultation to the moment you leave our doors, we ensure that patients of all ages receive the most comprehensive dermatological care possible. For your convenience, each of our offices uses electronic patient medical records. You can make an appointment or request a refill as well as view your medical history, lab report and messages from your computer or mobile device.
Our board certified dermatologists, physician assistants, and aestheticians are here to provide kind and compassionate care with the latest and most effective treatments for skin conditions. I get tremendous enjoyment from helping my patients, whether it’s saving a life by removing a melanoma or boosting a patient’s self-esteem by improving their appearance, each day I walk out of the office incredibly gratified.
What moisturizers/face wash should I be using for my skin on a daily basis?
In our office, we offer a variety of skin care products from Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute. Patients take a skin type quiz to identify which of the 16 unique Baumann Skin Types® they have and are then recommended the products best suited to their individual needs.
What sunscreens should I be using and what SPF? And how often should I apply it?
A very important question. I recommend mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and an SPF of 30. We offer two sunscreens here in our office, Elta MD UV Clear 46, and Skin Ceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 50. Sunscreens should be reapplied every hour if you plan on being in the sun for extended amounts of time.
How often should I be getting a full skin screening? And what age should I start to bring my child for one?
Accurate and effective skin screenings are essential for early detection of skin cancer. Metropolitan Dermatology provides screenings for patients in Clark, Kearny, Staten Island and Teaneck. Dermoscopy is our preferred method of skin cancer detection. This approach allows for early detection and treatment of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma while decreasing the number of biopsies required.
Skin cancer screenings are recommended yearly. If you have any suspicious moles, freckles or other growths on your body, it is important to get screened as quickly as possible. If you have previously had precancerous or cancerous lesions, it is important to get more frequent screenings. Skin cancer screening is available for people of all ages. Keep in mind that although exposure to ultraviolent light increases the risk of skin cancer, lesions may become cancerous whether or not they have ever been exposed to sunlight.
How do I know if my moles are changing? What signs should I be looking for?
The signs and symptoms may vary based on the type of cancer cells present. However, typical symptoms include:
A freckle or mole that suddenly changes
Skin that cracks or bleeds and won’t heal
A skin lesion that isn’t a solid color
A skin lesion with irregular borders
Skin cancer may be raised, flat, smooth or scaly. It can also be virtually any color, from light tan to black. Any questionable lesion should be evaluated by a medical professional.
The ABCDEs of Melanoma
Melanoma screening involves the evaluation of questionable lesions that may be cancerous. Lesions are considered “questionable” if they meet one or more of the following characteristics:
Asymmetry – Freckles and normal moles are symmetrical, whereas cancerous lesions may not be. If you have a mole that isn’t the same on both sides, it may be abnormal.
Border Irregularity – Most normal lesions have smooth borders. If you have a lesion with jagged or rough borders, it should be evaluated.
Color Change or Irregularity – Cancerous lesions may not be a single color. For example, they may contain spots that are darker or lighter, or they may be black on one side and reddish on the other. Cancerous lesions may also change color over time.
Diameter – Lesions that are bigger than a common pencil eraser should be evaluated.
Elevation – Cancerous lesions may be raised above the surface of the skin. They may also have a surface that is uneven.
What can I do for wrinkles on my face?
At Metropolitan Dermatology we offer different options to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Injectables, like Botox®, can help men and women achieve a younger, more relaxed and refreshed appearance by temporarily relaxing lines and wrinkles that can make a person look older than they feel. Typically, treatments will reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines. Many patients choose Botox® in conjunction with other treatments such as dermal fillers to achieve many of the same results of a facelift but without the cost or need for invasive cosmetic surgery.
Our experienced aesthetician Dana customizes treatment programs to address each patient’s unique skincare needs. She specializes in chemical peels and microdermabrasion for rejuvenation, as well as selecting effective skincare treatments based on the patient’s needs and skin type. Microdermabrasion is a gentle exfoliating procedure that can help reduce or eliminate the fine lines and wrinkles. The technique is ideal for rejuvenating your skin’s tone and texture, giving you a fresher, restored look complemented by a healthy glow. It’s also gentle enough to be used with all skin colors and skin types. A chemical peel is a minimally invasive technique that helps improve the skin’s appearance and removes fine lines or scars giving you a rejuvenated, more youthful look. Peels are usually used on the face, neck, and de collete, but may also be used on the hands. Treatments work by causing the upper layers of skin to blister and slough off, revealing fresh, new skin underneath and helping to remove imperfections, lines, wrinkles, scars and discolorations. The newly revealed skin has softer and more uniform texture, meaningfully enhancing the skin’s appearance.
IPL™ Photofacials is another way to correct fine lines and wrinkles. Intense pulsed light helps improve skin tone, texture, and creates a more vibrant appearance. The highly-focused beams of broad-spectrum light target the lower layers of the skin. This removes damaged skin while promoting the growth of collagen, one of the building blocks of healthy, toned skin. As it penetrates deep beneath the skin’s surface, it also promotes the development of collagen, a naturally occurring substance that helps skin look and feel firmer, as well as being more resilient. The results of the procedure will become more apparent during the weeks following treatment as natural collagen production increases.
Why do I have psoriasis when I have no family history of psoriasis?
Psoriasis is genetically linked, but there are other factors at play. Some triggers include stress, injury to skin, infections, and certain medications.
What can I do for my psoriasis?
Metropolitan Dermatology offers effective treatments to help manage or eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis. Depending on the diagnosis, treatments may include topical creams, oral medications, injected medications, or light therapy.
New to Metropolitan Dermatology is our XTRAC™ laser. XTRAC™ laser treatment is a revolutionary procedure that can be used to treat psoriasis and vitiligo. The symptoms of psoriasis can be reduced or eliminated for months at a time with no additional treatments required during remission. The procedure results in fewer side effects than other psoriasis treatments. This relatively new approach is quick and painless, and it produces results that rival or exceed most of the standard treatments currently available for treating the skin disease.
How can I get rid of unwanted hair?
If you have unwanted hair on your face, arms, legs or torso, laser hair removal could help you eliminate the tedious, ongoing chore of shaving and plucking by permanently reducing unwanted body hair. Laser hair removal kills the hair follicle, so in-grown hairs that often occur when waxing or shaving are not an issue.
Why am I still breaking out with acne as an adult?
Although teens are the ones most commonly affected by acne, the condition can occur at any age, from infancy through the adult years. In fact, recent research shows an increase in the number of adult women who have begun to develop pimples or scaly red patches in their 30s and beyond; scientists aren’t sure why.
Problems develop when pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. The clogged pores offer ideal spots for bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes that normally reside on the skin to hide and multiply. The result is an infection that causes the pores to become red and swollen. When infection moves into deeper layers of the skin, cysts or nodes can form which may cause scarring and permanent discoloration of the skin. Avoiding these permanent effects is one of the reasons why getting treatment is so important.
How do I get rid of my warts? I have tried OTC products with no improvement.
The best course of treatment depends on the nature of the condition and its severity. Typical treatments for warts include topical medications, injections that kill the virus causing the condition, freezing treatments or minor surgery to remove the growth manually. Typical treatments for molluscum contagiosum include aspiration of the fluid inside the bumps, freezing treatments, topical creams and oral medications.
